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P&K Dumps Logiealmond Windfarm Proposal
Local resident Elaine Crook described the proposed amended 14-turbine plan for the Little Glenshee area of Logiealmond as “a potential disaster for the landscape and the community”. She told the press that it would have a catastrophic impact on wildlife and tourism if it were to go ahead.
“Firstly, there are a number of bird species on the hill which would be directly affected,” she said.“They include red kite and peregrine falcon, which, in season, nest on the crags. In lower lying areas there are geese which migrate here every year, heron, buzzards, kestrels, sparrow hawk, oyster catchers, curlew, barn owls and tawny owls to name just a small selection and also bats.
Water Table
“Secondly these turbines are around 300 feet in height. For a structure of such size, a very deep foundation has to be created. I understand that this is done by blasting or digging into the hill and then pouring concrete in. Over the 18 years I have lived here, there has been a history of problems with the water supply.
“My concern is that digging 14 very deep holes and then pouring concrete, which is a known pollutant, into the holes will destabilise the ground beneath and cause problems with the water table.The water from those hills feeds the tributaries – including the Shochie Burn – which in turn feeds our household water supplies.
“Then there is the problem that the hillside can become unstable. Construction of roads and turbine bases may affect the hydrology and expose the are to risk of land slides as a result of construction activities, also access tracks may be located on unstable ground and carry very heavy loads.
“There are many, many more reasons not to embrace this proposal, such as noise, light reflection, a new access road, storage of oil and maintenance equipment, concrete beds having to be built for the cranes to stand on, chunks of ice flying off when the rotor blades defrost – which has killed livestock – and last but definitely not least, the fact that onshore wind farms aren’t even an efficient means of generating electricity.
“I fail to see any benefit at all to the area, or the local communities, and it has been proved that tourists will largely avoid areas where there are wind farms.
“We forego many of the amenities of people living in urban areas. We pay the same rates and yet have no street lighting, drive our rubbish two miles and are frequently forgotten when it comes to roads maintenance. The weather is harsh and winter can cut us off for days.
“What we do have is peace, quiet and the natural beauty of the landscape and its wildlife.”
Unanimous Rejection
The proposal, lodged by AMEC for land owned by Mansfeld Estates, had been amended from an earlier application for 40 turbines refused by P&K. However, on 2 July the revised proposal was also unanimously turned down by the P&K Development Control committee.
There had been 500 letters of objection to the proposal and the coucnil officials had recommended rejection on the grounds that it was contrary to the local authority's development plan due to unacceptable landscape and visual amenity impact, and its affest upon birds.
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